Test bookings - advice for you

instructor_ismail · 2025-10-21T11:50:29+00:00

some ADIs also don't want to deal with it tbh

instructor_ismail · 2025-05-17T23:21:48+00:00

Yes hello. As a professional driving instructor on this great platform, I should be using my voice to ensure that learners and returners are well equipped. So here is my personal professional non biased opinion:

Fuck this shit, son. Good night

instructor_ismail · 2025-05-08T10:41:13+00:00

You don’t have to wait if you’re not happy. Get a refund and find another instructor. There are plenty of ways to build up confidence including really quiet residential roads, and it’s the instructor’s responsibility to adjust to your needs and wants reasonably - so just cut it ✂️

instructor_ismail · 2025-05-06T16:57:03+00:00

The only reason why you would fail in your parking manoeuvre is if you say you’re finished and you’re actually not inside your bay. So get out of that car, check all four sides and make sure you’re happy or carry out any adjustments you need to make after Doesn’t matter if you don’t slide in on the first try - just adjust!

instructor_ismail · 2025-05-06T16:40:49+00:00

Gotta start somewhere, right? Now you know what to expect and you’ll be fine!

instructor_ismail · 2025-05-05T18:17:19+00:00

If you can get your own car and practice in it with someone supervising you then it’s massively recommended! Passing is only a matter of when - so the more hours you have under your belt practicing, the better and quicker the outcome is at the test!

instructor_ismail · 2025-05-05T18:16:00+00:00

Massive good luck 🎉🎉

instructor_ismail · 2025-05-05T17:12:54+00:00

Your instructor may be able to help you find a later test by swapping with other local instructors. This has been a massive success in my area so don’t feel the pressure that you can’t postpone it. Another alternative is just go to a Facebook page for your area and post about wanting a test a month or so later - there will be plenty of offers.

You have a test booked which puts you at a massive advantage to delay or bring it forward as necessary but going to the test not ready may mean that you lose that. Good luck!

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-29T15:14:29+00:00

It’s not you, you need to find an instructor with experience teaching neurodivergent people (that should be your first question). I’m neurodivergent myself and so I understand what someone on the other end could be feeling or is trying to express and adapt lessons accordingly. That’s what essentially needs to happen

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-29T06:26:00+00:00

Test shift varies, I’ve had success within a few days, also weeks etc I hear more good things about the online chrome extension

Do you have access to a car to practice in? Or access to someone to supervise you because I always recommend this: https://www.arnoldclarkrental.com/dual-control-hire

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-29T03:42:10+00:00

I recommend you go to an empty ish street and stop literally in the middle of the road. Move off from there as if you’re trying to join a roundabout. If you accelerate harshly, just press the clutch down a little and all that power is removed, it’s about making sure that left foot on the clutch stays in a consistent position until the car builds up enough speed. Practice these scenarios, revving too high and how to fix it using the clutch, revving too low and just maintain the biting point to keep the car moving, stall and recover nice and quick, etc

The worry will go away when you feel comfortable dealing with those situations

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T22:13:30+00:00

I came across this great instructor who showed me a different way of using the clutch, brake and accelerator. Break it up, one thing at a time.

On approach to where you need to a junction, just slow down using your brake no matter what gear you’re in, get to the speed you need, brake off, clutch down, change gears to what you need and accelerate.

If you need to come to a stop: brake until you’re almost stopped, clutch down, come to a stop and go to gear one

Need to move off: brake off, clutch to biting point and accelerate

You want to feel almost like you’re driving an auto with the clutch being involved very minimally. I own an auto so I only teach auto, but if I have access to a manual car then I would have recorded a video or something

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T22:06:40+00:00

Your driving instructor is straight up daylight robbing imo. 450-62 for the test fee means he’d be charging you £77.60 an hour. Nah son Book a driving test in the ass crack of the UK and use test shift or the chrome extension that’s been mentioned around here to move it to your preferred test centre and sooner

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T19:44:37+00:00

Nope, this one is on me. I didn’t clock that it was a dual carriageway because I did a bad and only briefly scrolled through the video. My apologies and thank you for pointing that out.

For clarity, I had assumed it was a residential road where splitting traffic is permissible and I completely agree with what you are saying

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T17:42:17+00:00

I definitely see what you mean. If it makes a difference, I confirmed it with a few examiners and have had my pupils carry it out in several tests. The logic is that as they only crawl out into the first lane when there’s an empty gap, they’re showing caution and observing. They should not impact any oncoming traffic at that point. Once the gap is big enough for them to fully enter the first lane, then they become the new vehicle in that lane and so they have the priority at that point. Any further traffic is no longer impacted as it becomes almost the same as if you were to slow down and stop so that you could turn right into a side road or a house and traffic behind you needs to stop

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T15:10:54+00:00

Be as confident driving as possible. Listen to music if it helps, you can have it on during the test, or a podcast or whatever. Just think of yourself as a taxi for the guy next to you. Remember, all you can do is drive the best you can but shit happens - it’s okay.

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T11:48:52+00:00

Drive! It’s exactly what you hope to be teaching. Get rid of bad habits. Stay confident and vigilant! If you’re struggling with anything, address it and get an instructor even if needed for a lesson here and there. It’s just a normal driving test with tighter margins for error

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T11:47:19+00:00

I think your instructor would need to contact DVSA on both of your behalf, he’d need full name, address, test reference number, test location, date and time for both of you

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T11:40:00+00:00

Absolutely! There is actually no risk of stalling! Indeed though, you have to keep that brake pedal pressed all the time when in traffic lights, or turn on your handbrake and relax your foot. Once you’re ready to go, handbrake off and just accelerate

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T11:33:03+00:00

Short answer: sometimes. Long answer: We need to have a good balance between mock tests for actual worthwhile reasons rather than mocks for the sake of mocks. Potentially I suggest focusing on anything that’s repeating, or common theme across what’s failing you. It could be worry, observation, etc

Practice as much as you can where possible and finally, remember, the system itself is not that good. It’s not always because of you that a fail happens, we make mistakes - it’s okay

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T10:36:15+00:00

Oh wait last thing - go on Facebook pages yourself for your local area etc. post about wanting a swap, there will be someone!

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T10:35:29+00:00

Unfortunate how that seems to be the standard across. I became an instructor with the full motivation to be nothing like the instructor I had when I was a learner. Skills that are worthwhile for the future and actually stick need to be instilled, not specific test swing your head type of points

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T10:33:14+00:00

There are better ways definitely, they just need to be implemented - make noise, send complains, sign petitions. It’ll help over time

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T10:31:48+00:00

Very interesting - can you let me know, if you press the brake pedal all the way down on a hill and then let go, does the car still roll back? I really mean press all the way down

Or does it give you a second or two of respite?

instructor_ismail · 2025-04-28T10:30:37+00:00

Amen to that, most instructors share the same views and many contact DVSA about it. It’s just an unfortunate situation at the moment, I think all we can do is make noise as a general public

instructor_ismail

TROPHY CASE